Inside selvedge motion for looms



April 15, 1958 B. MASSON ETAL 2,830,623

INSIDE SELVEDGE MOTION FOR Looms Filed Oct. 27, 1954 V 6 SheetsSheet 1B. MASSON ETAL INSIDE SELVEDGE MOTION FOR LOOMS April 15, 1958 6Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2'7. 1954 B. MASSON El AL INSIDE SELVEDGEMOTION FOR 'LOOMS April 15, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 27. 1954April 15, 1958 B. MASSON ETAL INSIDE SELVEDGE MOTION FOR LQDMS I aSheets-Sheet s Filed Oct. 27, 1954 m'wwrazs 555M029 Mayan;

Mame 1 7973.402 X 14w ziiqovzz A ril 15, 1958 a. MASSON EIAL INSIDESELVEDGE MOTION FOR LOOMS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 2'7. 1954 I II IUnited States Patent INSIDE SELVEDGE MOTION FOR LOOMS Bernard Masson,Courbevoie, Moise Thibaut, Argenteuil,

and Andr Berquier, Le Pre St. Gervais, France, assignors to SocietedApplications Generates dEleetricite & de Mecanique, Paris, FranceApplication October 27, 1954, Serial No. 465,045

Claims priority, application France October 30, 1953 13 Claims. (Cl.139-54) This invention relates to textile machines, and moreparticularly to inside selvedge motions for use in looms, especially foruse in circular looms having a horizontal shed.

An object of the invention is to improve on the art of inside selvedgemotions for use in circular looms, for example of inside selvedgemotions for obtaining a chain stitch by means of a combination ofparticular elements as disclosed in our copending U. S. patentapplication Serial No. 392,394 filed on November 16, 1953 for An InsideSelvedge Motion for Use in Looms and matured into Patent No. 2,704,558on March 22, 1955, to which application reference is made herewith.

According to the disclosure of said U. S. Patent 2,704,558 the controlof the movement of the crossing thread is obtained by means of a systemof reciprocable belts engaged with rotatable pulleys. Owing to thedelicate operation of said system of belts the speed of operation islimited. Furthermore, said system of belts wears out in a very shorttime. Moreover, the crossing thread is subjected to extremely greatstrains causing quite often a breakage.

On the other hand, the inner selvedged motion according to said U. S.Patent 2,704,558 does not permit to ob tain a properly located selvedge,as the slightest change in the tension of the selvedge threads causes adisplacement of the latter which results in irregularities in the edgesof the fabric after the cutting thereof.

An object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages of theinner selvedge motion according to said U. S. Patent 2,704,558.

For this purpose the system of belts of the inner selvedge motionaccording to said U. S. Patent 2,704,558 is replaced by a different andsturdier mechanism which may be operated in a simple manner:furthermore, a special member is provided for holding the selvedge inits proper place.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an inside selvedge motionaccording to the invention illustrating the general arrangement of itselements (for a weave with 2 ends),

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of a double needle for guiding thecrossing threads and of the mechanism for controlling said doubleneedle,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the shed at the moment of thepassage of the shuttle, illustrating the relative position of thevarious selvedge threads (for a weave with 2 ends),

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the rigid warp dividers mounted on eachheddle for the control of the movements of the ground threads.

Figs. 5 and 6 are a side elevational View and a front elevational viewof a finger for holding the selvedges,

Figs. 7-9 are a vertical sectional view illustrating the position of theholding finger with respect to the various 2,830,623 Patented Apr. 15,1958 a moving members of the inside selvedge motion and to the laid Weftthread,

Fig. 10 illustrates, for a Weave with 2 ends, the inside selvedges witha chain stitch made by the inside selvedge motion according to heinvention,

Figs. 11-14 illustrate, for a weave with 2 ends, various positions. ofthe crossing thread and the ground thread in relation to the mean planeof the shed during one complete permutation,

Figs. 1517 illustrate a cam control relating to the synchronization ofthe shuttles with the needle movement, and

Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate means for controlling the breadth of theweave.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a crossing thread f3 is unwound from a bobbin 1for each selvedge. The crossing thread f3 passing through a diskfriction 2 and a tensioning device 3 is trained around a shaft 40 and aroller 4. After leaving the roller 4, the crossing thread f3 passesthrough the eye 5 of a needle 6.

The needle 6 guiding the crossing thread f3 is arranged between theinner heddle 7 and the reed 9, so that the inside selvedge motion may bemounted on the loom Without a modification of the shaft frames.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the double needle 6, 6' swingablymounted on a pin 10 carries an armature 11 at its upper end which, inthe course of an oscillation, is attracted by a magnetic circuit of oneor the other of the two coils 12 and 13.

The lateral displacement of the needle 6, 6 provides for the right handposition or left hand position of the crossing thread with respect tothe ground thread.

The base of the support 39 carrying the pin 10 and the coils 11 and 12may be readily attached to the frame 30 of the loom by means of clamps31, 32. Preferably, the roller 4 guiding the crossing thread f3 is alsomounted on the support 39.

Thus, the inner selvedge motion may be readily attached to any point ofthe frame of the loom by means of the clamps 31, 32 without requiringthe provision of bores or the like.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the eye 5 of the needle 6 is in such aposition, that the crossing thread f3 is always below the mean plane XX'of the normal shed of the loom. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, thecrossing thread f3 depressed by the shuttle 42 upon the passage thereofis always woven below the weft thread.

When during the mean position of the heddles 7 and 8 the crossing of thethreads occurs the needle 6, 6' is moved from the left to the right byan interruption of the current in the coil 12 and a simultaneous supplyof current to the coil 13. On the other hand, during a subsequentpermutation, the needle 6, 6 is returned from the right to the left byan interruption of the current in the coil 13 and a simultaneous supplyof current to the coil 12.

The flow of current through the coils 12 and 13 is controlled by achange-over switch 44 (see Fig. 1), the resilient contact element 16 ofwhich is alternatively in contact with the contacts 17 and 18.

An extension 20 of a guide 19 attached to the heddle 8 causes a closingof the circuit, including the coil 12, between the contact 16 and thecontact 18 of the switch 44 during a half lower course, i. e. during themovement of the threads from the mean position of permutation to the lowposition and back to the crossing position.

On the other hand, during the upper half course of the heddle 8, theextension 20 of the guide 19 is dis engaged from the resilient contactelement 16 of the switch 44, so that said contact element 16 returnsinto a position for contact with the contact 17 so as to close thecircuit including the coil 13.

The ground threads f1 and f2 delivered by a bobbin (not shown) are ledto the heddles 7 and 8 upon passage through a braking device (not shown)and tensioning device (not shown), said braking device and saidtensioning device being similar to the devices 2 and 3 shown in Fig. 1in cooperation with the crossing thread f3. The ground threads f1 and 2may be of the same type and quality as the warp threads.

Said ground threads f1 and f2 are threaded through eyelets of specialheddles 14 and 15 mounted on the heddles 7 and 8. The eyelets of saidspecial heddles 14 and 15 are arranged at such a level that the groundthreads f1 and f2 are somewhat offset relative to the mean plane XX' ofthe shed when the heddles 7 and 8 are in crossing position, so that thecrossing thread f3 may pass from one side of the ground threads f1 andf2 to the other at the moment of permutation.

The special heddles 14 and 15 are designed in such a manner that theymay be attached to any suitable point of customary heddles, such as theshafts 7 and 8.

For obtaining two parallel inner selvedges it is sufficient to use aneedle having two arms 6 and 6' (see Fig. 2) and two heddles 14 and 14'coupled with each other (see Fig. 4).

The distance between the two arms 6, 6' of the needle and between thetwo special heddles 14, 14' on one and the same shaft respectively isdetermined by the distance a (see Fig. 10) desired to be obtainedbetween the two inner selvedges 29 and 29'.

Depending on the length of said distance a more or less passages of thereed 9 between those two passages thereof receiving each a group ofthree threads for an inner selvedge 29 or 29 respectively are leftempty.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 7, 8 and 9 a finger 23, preferably made ofsteel, is swingably mounted at 24 on a bar 22 adjustably mounted on amember 21 connected with the support 39 of the mechanism for theformation of an inner selvedge 29. A spring 25 tends to urge saidswingable finger 23 against an abutment 26 mounted on the bar 22. Thebar 22 carrying the swingable finger 23 may be radially adjusted inaccordance with the width of the cloth to be woven.

Each time when the heddles 7 and 8 are in the position of permutation asshown in Fig. 1, i. e. when the shed being closed is free from allmembers participating in the weaving operation, the finger 23 is in arear position penetrating into the space between the inner selvedges 29and 29'. Thus said finger 23 holds the inner selvedges 29 and 29' inproper position and at a proper distance from each other.

As best shown in Figs. and 6, the lower end of the finger 23 is taperedin the shape of a beak 33 so that it may easier penetrate into the spacebetween the two selvedges.

A piece of leather 34 mounted on the inner surface of the beak 33eliminates a damage to or brutal and noisy shocks on the member of theshuttle which pushes periodically the finger 23 towards the zone ofweaving.

Said protection by the piece of leather 34 is also obtained when theshed is open and the finger 23 is lifted by the weft laying member 27-(see Figs. 7 and 8) arranged on a passing shuttle 42.

The member 27 of the advancing shuttle 42 causes a swinging of thefinger 23 about the pivot 24 from the position shown in Fig. 7 into theposition 23' shown in Fig. 8 whereupon the member 27 is disengaged fromthe finger 23 and the latter returns into its inactive position, shownin Fig. 9, under the action of the spring 25.

During this time the weft thread 28. (see Fig. 9) has been deposited bythe shuttle 42 in its place so that now, after the zone 29 is againfree, it may be beaten up by the beat-up mechanism. During its rockingabout the pivot 24 the finger 23 is always in engagement with one of thetwo ground threads f1 and f2 although one of the two heddles 14 or 15may be in a high position.

Thus, the finger 23 maintains permanently the proper position anddistance of the selvedges.

The operation of the inner selvedge motion according to the invention isas follows:

As best shown in Fig. 10 each selvedge 29 and 29 respectively is formedby the knotting of two ground threads f1 and f2 or f4 and f5respectively and of the crossing thread f3 or f6 respectively with eachweft thread 28.

The crossing thread f3 or f6 respectively passing always below the weftthread 28 is alternatively on the right or on the left of the two groundthreads f1 and f2 or f4 and f5 respectively. During the movement of thecrossing thread f3 or f6 respectively from the right to the left andfrom the left to the right, the crossing thread is always above theground threads fl and f2 or f4 and f5 respectively, said ground threadsfollowing the movement of the woven weave.

During a complete permutation of the shafts 7 and 8 the followingpositions occur:

Before the passage of shuttle No. I the heddles are in the crossingposition whereby the shed is closed as indicated by Fig. 11.

The crossing threads f3 and f6 passing through the needle 6, 6' are atthe left.

The ground threads f1, f2 and f4, f5 are in the position of permutation,but in a plane below the mean plane XX of permutation of the heddles 7and 8 (not shown in Fig. 11).

The distance between the plane of the ground threads f1, f2 and f4, f5and the mean plane X-X' of permutation of the heddles 7 and 8 is largeenough that, at the moment of their crossing, the position of saidground threads does not disturb the movement of the needle 6, 6' forbringing the crossing thread from one side to the other.

During the passage of the shuttle No. I the heddles 7 and 8 are in theirextreme positions whereby the shed is opened as indicated by Fig. 12.

The crossing threads f3 and f6 are at the left of the ground threads f1,f2 and f4, f5.

The ground threads f1 and f4 are in their high positions.

The ground threads 2 and f5 are in their low positions.

Before the passage of the shuttle No. II the heddles 7 and 8 are againin their crossing position whereby the shed is closed as indicated byFig. 13.

The ground threads f1, f2 and f4, f5 are in their position ofpermutation below the mean plane X-X' of the heddles 7 and 8.

The crossing threads f3 and f6 are brought to the right of the groundthreads by means of the needle 6, 6.

During the passage of shuttle No. II the heddles 7 and 8 are in theirextreme positions whereby again the shed is opened as illustrated byFig. 14.

The crossing threads f3 and f6 are at the right of the ground threadsf1, f2 and f4, f5.

The ground threads f1 and f4 are in their low positions.

The ground threads f2 and f5 are in their high positions.

Thus, during a complete permutation, the only movement in addition tothe normal movement of the shafts is the displacement of the needle fromthe left to the right which is followed by a return movement to the leftat the time of the permutation following the passage of the shuttle.

An inner selvedge motion according to the invention may be applied tolooms of any type at any point of th Width of the woven goods.

The new system for controlling the movements of the crossing thread hasthe following characteristics:

(1) A particular movement:

In contrast to hitherto customary inner selvedge motions, the path ofthe crossing thread is not in the shape of a U having an amplitudelarger than that of the shed.

The crossing thread is threaded into a needle reciprocating at a smallamplitude parallel to the mean plane of the shed.

The crossing thread delivered by a bobbin subjected to a braking actionand placed in a suitable position for obtaining the most direct pathpasses through a compensating system including a tensioning device,Whereupon the crossing thread being trained around a roller is suppliedto the needle between the shafts and the reed.

(2) A particular position of the ground threads:

The ground threads are pulled downwardly so that the crossing thread maypass above them when they are in position of permutation.

(3) The means for controlling the movement:

Owing to the small amplitude of movement of the needle and owing to thesmall amount of energy required for the movement of the needle, thecontrol of the movement of the needle may be obtained in a simple mannerby different means:

For example, the control of the needle movement may be obtainedmechanically from the movements of the shafts by means of cams orlinkages.

Furthermore, the control of the needle movement may be obtained from anymember of the loom operating in synchronism with the movement of theshuttles. In such a case, the movement may be transmitted in diiferentways, for example by means of a fluid transmitting the energy of adriving piston to the inner selvedge motion or by means of an electricalsystem or by any other suitable means.

According to the embodiment shown in the drawings and described above indetail the electric control of the needle is obtained by means operatingin synchronism with the movement of the shuttles. A switch actuated by amember attached to a shaft alternatively excites one or the other of twoelectromagnets causing an oscillation of the needle.

(4) The use of a movable finger operating in synchronism with thepassage of the shuttles:

This finger is used for holding the inner selvedge in its place.

The inner selvedge must be guided during its formation as the innerselvedge motion according to the invention is mounted on a loom withouta slay as is the case in most of the circular looms.

An inner selvedge motion comprising such a finger produces two innerselvedges which are held at a predetermined distance from each other andparallel to each other by means of said finger.

The finger of suitable shape is swingably mounted on the supportcarrying the device for controlling the movement of the needle.

The finger may be adjusted in radial direction in accordance with thewidth of the cloth woven on the loom.

The finger enters into the space between the two selvedges so as to holdthe threads in their place which form the chain stitch at the moment oftheir knotting with the weft thread. Thereafter, the finger moves awayat the moment of the passage of the shuttle and the deposit of a newweft thread so that the fabric may advance and the weft thread may bebeaten up at the bottom of the shed. This displacement of the finger maybe obtained by diiferent means, for example by making use of the passageof one of the members rotating in synchronism with the shuttles or ofthe movement of the shafts, or by making use of an exterior action of amotor or an electromagnet acting in synchronism with the movement of theshuttles.

Said arrangement of a movable finger could also be used for holding inplace inner selvedges which are produced by an inner selvedge motionother than that described above.

If the weave is not a plain weave, the inner selvedge is always formedby:

A crossing thread, the movement of which is the same as in the case of aplain weave: a displacement in one direction or the other at eachpassage of a shuttle,

As many ground threads as there are ends in the weave.

The synchronization between the displacement of the shuttles and thebalancing of the needle which guides the turning thread may be realizedas in the example illustrated by Fig. 15.

The cam 45 which controls the upwardly and downwardly motion of one ofthe circular rows of heddles is firmly connected to the center portionof the loom, the rotation of which constitutes the normal motion of anycircular weaving loom.

The cam shown operates with a loom having four shuttles 42. Each of theshuttles is driven by a column 46 rigidly connected to the cam. Thedrive is provided for example by means of two friction rollers, oneroller 47 being supported by the column 46 and the other roller 48 beingfixed to the back portion of the shuttle; these two rollers roll on thelower sheet of the shed according to a principle known per se.

The cam communicates the. upward and downward motion to the post 19 ofeach heddle by way of the rollers 49. In Fig. 15 the frame is in its lowposition and the insulating lug 20 applies the contact 16 and 18 one onthe other so that the electric circuit of the coil 12 is supplied withpower and so that the needle inclines towards the right as shown in Fig.16.

The needle 6 will remain in this position as long as the frame 19remains in its low position, i.. e. during the entire passage of ashuttle. Subsequently, the cam 45 will raise the frame 49 before thenext shuttle 42 driven by the column 46 appears. As the frame rises, thelug 20 draws away. The contact blade 16 leaves the contact 18 and isapplied against contact 17. The circuit of coil 12 is opened and that ofcoil 13 is being closed so that the needle 6 swings according to theinclination shown in Fig. 17. Thus, between the passage of two shuttlesthe needle 6 swings and displaces the thread in relation to the groundthreads. The needle 6 remains inclined to the left during the entirepassage of the shuttle.

Thereafter, during the following permutation of the frames the coil 13is no longer fed whereas coil 12 is fed once again and the needle 6returns to the position shown in Fig. 16.

In Figs. 18 and 19 the member 22 which receives the finger 23 is fixedon the support 21 by means of two bolts 51. The support 21 is providedwith two longitudinal openings or slots 52 wherein the bolts 51 whichare firmly connected to the cap 22 can slide. Thus, the cap can bedisplaced and fixed as desired.

If weaving with a maximum breadth, the members which carry the finger 23are placed in position a indicated by a solid line in Figs. 18 and 19.To permit weaving with a minimum breadth, they are fixed in position 1')shown by the dotted line. It is evident that they can be arrangedbetween these two extreme positions in any position corresponding to anyintermediate breadth whatsoever.

We have described a preferred embodiment of our invention, but it isunderstood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration andthat various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangementof parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those,herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An inside selvedge motion for looms having a reed fry guide forengagement with a first ground thread, a second reciprocable guide forengagement with a second ground thread, said first and second guidesholding said first and second ground threads in a plane below the planeof said eye of said needle when they are in their position ofpermutation, and means for actuating said needle and first and secondguides in predetermined relationship to each other.

2. In combination with an inside selvedge motion as claimed in claim 1,a member attached to said supporting means, a finger swingably mountedon said member for engagement with the inside selvedge produced by theinside selvedge motion so as to hold said inside selvedge in its place,an abutment on said member, and resilient means engaged with said fingerfor urging same against said abutment.

3. In combination with an inside selvedge motion as claimed in claim 1,a member adjustably attached to said supporting means, a fingerswingably mounted on said member for engagement with the inside selvedgeproduced by the inside selvedge motion so as to hold said insideselvedge in its place, an abutment on said member, and resilient meansengaged with said finger for urging same against said abutment.

4. In combination with an inside selvedge motion as claimed in claim 1,a swingable finger for engagement with the inside selvedge produced bythe mechanism of the loom so as to hold said inside selvedge in itsplace.

5. An inside selvedge motion for looms having a plurality of shuttles, areed and a pair of reciprocable heddles, comprising: stationarysupporting means for attachment to the frame of a loom, a needle havingan eye for engagement with a crossing thread, guiding means for guidingsaid crossing thread above the heddles of the loom to the eye of saidneedle, said needle being rockably mounted on said stationary supportingmeans and extending into the space between the reed and the adjacentheddle of the loom, the eye of said needle reciprocating in a planebelow and substantially parallel to the mean I plane of the shed, afirst reciprocable guide for engagement with a first ground thread, asecond reciprocable guide for engagement with a second ground thread,said first and second guides being attached to the reciprocable heddlesof the loom for participtating in the movements of the latter inopposite directions, said first and second guides holding said first andsecond ground threads in a plane below the plane of said eye of saidneedle when they are in their position of permutation, and means forsubjecting said needle to reciprocating rocking movements inpredetermined relationship to the reciprocating movements of said firstand second guides.

6. In an inside selvedge motion as claimed in claim 5, said means forsubjecting the needle to reciprocating rockng movement includingelectric means operated in synchronism with the movement of the shuttlesof the loom.

7. In an inside selvedge motion as claimed in claim 5, said means forsubjecting the needle to reciprocating rocking movements includingelectromagnetic means oper- 8 ated in dependence on the reciprocatingmovement of a heddle of the loom.

8. An inside selvedge motion for a loom, comprising: means for producinga pair of inside selvedge spaced from each other at a predetermineddistance, and a swingable finger for entering into the space between theinside selvedges so as to hold same in their proper places.

9. In an inside selvedge motion as claimed in claim 8, a member carryingsaid swingable finger, and means for adjusting said member in dependenceon the width of the cloth to be woven.

10. In a loom the combination of: a reed, a pair of reciprocableheddles, a stationary member, a needle having an eye for engagement witha crossing thread, said r needle being rockably mounted on saidstationary member, guiding means for guiding said crossing thread abovethe heddles of the loom to the eye of said needle, said needle extendinginto the space between the reed and the adjacent heddle of the loom, theeye of said needle reciprocating in a plane below and substantiallyparallel to the mean plane of the shed, a first reciprocable guide forengagement with a first ground thread, a second reciprocable guide forengagement with a second ground thread, said first and second guidesholding said first and second ground threads in a plane below the planeof said eye of said needle when they are in their position ofpermutation, and means for actuating said needle and first and secondguides in predetermined relationship to each other.

11. In a loom the combination of; a reed, a pair of reciprocableheddles, a stationary member, a needle having an eye for engagement witha crossing thread, said needle being rockably mounted on said stationarymember, guiding means for guiding said crossing thread above the heddlesof the loom to the eye of said needle, said needle extending into thespace between the reed and the adjacent heddle of the loom, the eye ofsaid needle reciprocating in a plane below and substantially parallel tothe mean plane of the shed, a first riciprocable guide for engagementwith a first ground thread, a second reciprocable guide for engagementwith a second ground thread, said first and second guides being attachedto the reciprocable heddles of the loom for participating in themovements of the latter in opposite direction, said first and secondguides holding said first and second ground threads in a plane below theplane of said eye of said needle when they are in their position ofpermutation, and means for subjecting said needle to reciprocatingrocking movements in predetermined relationship to the reciprocatingmovements of said first and second guides.

12. In a loom as claimed in claim 11, said means for subjecting theneedle to reciprocating rocking movements including electric meansoperated in synchronism with the movement of the shuttles of the loom.

13. In a loom as claimed in claim 11, said means for subjecting theneedle to reciprocating rocking movements including electromagneticmeans operated in dependence on the reciprocating movement of a shaft ofthe loom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS743,674 Bardsley Nov. 10, 1903 788,918 Ledoux May 2, 1905 1,226,361Niederwerfer May 15, 1917 2,300,281 Barbotto Oct. 27, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS 258,031 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1926

